Maui With Kids

Great Maui Vacations for Families

Maui is a great destination for families as well as
honeymooners.

The Hawaiian word for family is "ohana".
Like many Hawaiian words, it evokes a feeling, an emotion, more than a
literal "blood relation" meaning. It means belonging, to a
group of relatives or a wider community, whose members support and
nurture each other - like any family. Family is one of the touchstones
of Hawaiian culture.

Family members of all ages will have a great time in
Maui. There are so many things to see and do, and a wide variety of
accommodations to appeal to families of any size or age.

The main resort areas are Ka'anapali, Kapalua, and
Wailea. Each is a planned community, with accommodations and ammenities
designed with visitors in mind. The resort communities of Maui have an
abundance of condominium complexes, unlike Mexico or the Caribbean.

More Family-Friendly Maui

For families, condominiums provide the most
comfortable, home-like atmosphere. There are condos available with up to
3 bedrooms, plus sofa beds, and can accommodate up to 8 people. There is
no need for multiple hotel rooms or eating out at every meal. While no
one wants to spend their vacation cooking for the family, having
breakfast, snacks or quick meals in the condo save the family time and
money - and it's much more convenient than getting dressed and getting
into the car to go to a restaurant for breakfast or a light lunch after
a swim.

Condos also generally have laundry facilities in the
unit - you can toss some clothes in the washer before you leave for the
day and into the dryer when you get home - and pack half as many
clothes! This is especially good for young children, who often require
several changes of clothes during the day.

Resorts also have activity desks to help you plan your
stay. Kayaks and snorkle gear are generally available, and in some
areas, you can snorkle right from the beach in front of your resort. The
activity desk can also help you arrange a tour or guided activity, if
you prefer.

- Swimming. Check with the activity desk for the best
beaches for small children - it may not be the beach in front of your
resort. Children, like everyone else, need to be careful in the ocean,
but they don't need to avoid it. Just find out which beach to go to, and
ask the lifeguard on duty for tips on enjoying the water.

- Snorkling. Even relatively young children can
snorkle if they are so inclined. Seeing the colorful fish is a great
activity for kids! Just be sure to check with the desk for a calm,
shallow bay - and have the child wear a life vest for safety. Resorts
often offer lessons and gear, or they can direct you to a local shop.

- Surfing. Older children can learn to surf at one of
the many surf school or camps on the island. Some of them (such as Goofy
Foot) guarantee you will be standing on the board and riding a wave at
the end of a 2-hour lesson.

- Scuba diving. There are even more diving schools,
and older children can take a lesson with you. Exploring the varied
marine life deep under the ocean surface is a wonderful family activity.

- Building sand castles and lounging in the sun. Need
I say more?

- Horseback riding. You may not think of horses in
Hawaii, but the islands have a rich agricultural heritage, and paniolo
(Hawaiian cowboys) use horses just as they were used in the Old West.
Seeing Maui on horseback allows you to see areas that are inaccessible
any other way. And kids love horses!

- Drive the Hana highway (or take a tour). The scenery
along the Hana highway is breathtaking - which is why it's a good idea
to let someone else do the driving. The driver, unfortunately, needs to
focus on the road and will miss the beauty of the lush foliage and
waterfalls, so very different than the western side of the island. A
tour also travels the rough roads circling the island, where rental cars
are prohibited. This is a great way to see the whole perimiter of the
southern island, and a treat for the whole family.

- Take a whale watching excursion. From December to
April, humpback whales make their home on the western shores of Maui.
There are thousands of them, and while you can often see them from
shore, a boat trip gets you up close to the action. The whales are
accustomed to the tour boats (and the boats are very respectful of the
whales), so they often will swim right along side the boat for several
minutes. You might see a mother and calf, or watch them breach the
surface and dive below. A sunset cruise is a special treat.

- Take a hike. There are trails throughout the island,
from easy walks to more strenous hikes past waterfalls, through lava
tubes, and up hills. Some are guided, but you can pick up maps at
tourist offices. A guided tour offers more information about your
surroundings and its history.

- Take a ride on the Sugar Cane Train. This historic
steam locomotive runs from Ka'anapali to Lahaina, and has open-air
coaches to view the spectacular scenery along the way. There is also
Hawaiian entertainment and stories of the railroad's role in the history
of the island.

- Take a helicopter or small plane tour. There is no
better way to see the island than from above. Maui has 5 distinct
ecological zones, and the striking contrast between the dry western side
and the lush, green eastern coast is best viewed from the air.

In addition to these activities, you can check with
your resort's activity desk for age-appropriate activities offered at
the resort itself. Many have hula or lei-making lessons, or art classes.
You can let the kids enjoy themselves while you catch some rays on the
beach!

Don't dismiss Maui as a honeymoon destination only. If
you spent your honeymoon there, re-visit it with the kids - you'll
experience a whole new island!

Written by Judy Christensen

I love to travel and always share my vacations with my
sisters.

As a former travel agent, I focused on vacations of
particular interest to women - girlfriend getaways, mother-daughter or
sister vacations, reconnecting with friends.